Orthopedic apparatus



July 2, 1940.

w. D. LANG FORD ORTHOPEDIC APPARATUS Original Filed Aug. 5, 1937ATTORNEYS Patented July 2, 1940 UNITED STATES.

PATENT OFFlC E Original application August 5, 1937, Serial No. 157,624.Divided and this application February 14, 1939, Serial No. 256,868

2 Claims.

to reshape the foot, as for instance, aclub foot,

and stretch the ligaments and tissue surrounding the bones in order thatthe operator may return the bones to normal position.

A further object is to provide a device of this character which will beformed of a few strong simple and durable parts, which will beinexpensive to manufacture, and which will not easily get out of order.

With the above and other objects in View the invention consists ofcertain novel details of construction and combinations of partshereinafter fully described and claimed, it being understood thatvarious modifications may be resorted to within the scope of theappended claims without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any ofthe advantages of the invention.

In the accompanying drawing forming part of this specification,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of orthopedic apparatus constructed inaccordance with the in- Vention.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary top plan view of the apparatus shown in Figure1.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view through the compresssion jawsandshowing the means for adjusting the same.

Figure 4 is an end elevation of the parts shown in Figure 3.

Referring now to the drawing in which like characters of referencedesignate similar parts in the various views, I l! designates a mainframe preferably formed of angle iron, the same having angle iron legsH. A seat frame designated in general by the numeral [2 is supported bythe legs above the top of the main frame, as best shown in Figure 1. Aseat I3 is supported by the seat frame and an inclined back rest 14 50is pivotally mounted as shown at IE on the seat and is adjustablymounted torock in any desired. angular position with respect to theseat, there being a slotted segment l6 carried by the seat and a setscrew 11 carried by the back rest to permit of this adjustment.

A pair of jaws I8 and I9, shown best in Figure 3, is supported upon thefront legs of the main frame by angle iron brackets 20 and by rods 2|,best shown in Figures 1 and 2. The jaws are hollow casings each providedin the top with a padded concave depression 22 to receive the free legof the patient when one of the legs is being operated upon. The jaws areprovided in their confronting inner side walls with concave depressions23 which are provided with respective pads 24 that are pivoted at oneend to the bottom of the depression. At the free end each pad isswivelly connected to a screw 25 which is screw threadedly engagedthrough a bracket 26, best shown in Figure 3. The screws project beyondthe outer end walls of the jaws and each are provided with a respectivebutton 21. By turning the screws manually the pads may be enclosed uponthe patients foot for compression purposes during the correctivetreatment.

One of the jaws is provided with a bracket 28 and a shaft 29 is swivellypassed through the bracket and is equipped on opposite sides of thebracket with stop collars 30. The shaft projects through the outer endwall of one of the jaws and is equipped with a crank handle 3| forrotating the shaft. The shaft passes loosely through openings 32 formedin the inner confronting end walls of the jaws and is screw threaidedlyengaged in an opening 33 formed in the beforementioned bracket 26. Theshaft forms means for moving the jaws endwise relatively to each otherto properly position the jaws for compressing the foot while the freeleg is supported in one of the padded depressions 22. By referring nowto Figure 1 it will be seen that back of each jaw a stationary rod 34 issecured at its ends in one of the legs II and in an angle iron bracket35. A rod 36 is slidably passed through a bracket 31 which depends fromthe top wall of the jaw at the depression 22. The

rear end of the rod is provided with an eye 38 which encircles the rod34. The front end of the rod is equipped with a wing nut 39, best shownin Figures 1 and 2. Either of the jaws, l8 or l9, may be lockedstationary in a predetermined position transversely of the supportingframe by screwing up tight its wing nut' 39.

Thereupon when the crank handle 3| is turned the other jaw will be movedtoward or away from the stationary jaw according to the direction ofrotation of the crank handle.

In the operation of the device the patient may be placed upon the seatand the seat adjusted by manipulation of the adjusting mechanism tocomfortably dispose the patient with one leg resting in one of thepadded depressions 22 of the jaws. To apply corrective compression thefoot of the patient is thrust into the foot receivin concave walls 23 ofthe jaws l8 and I9 and thereupon the shafts 25 are manipulated tocompress the foot at the ankle.

By slight and gentle pressure of the jaws on the deformed or dislocatedbones of the foot or ankle, increased little by little, and simultaneousmanipulation and massaging with the fingers ,of the operators hand, thetissues, ligaments and tendons are stimulated, and those adhered to thebones are loosened thus enabling the operator to more easily place eachbonein its normal position. The treatments may be continued for fromtwenty to thirty minutes each, for days, weeks and months depending uponthe age of the patient and the former care of the foot, until thedeformed part is restored to normal condition. In some cases specialpads are placed in the jaws to apply pressure at predetermined localizedpoints to obtain the compression or pressure desired at these pointsduring treatment.

From the above description it is thought that the construction andoperation of the invention will be fully understood Withut furtherexplanation.

What is claimed is:

1. Orthopedic apparatus comprising a frame, a seat adjustably mounted onthe frame, compression jaws, means for adjustably mounting thelcompression jaws to move transversely of the frame, pivoted compressionpads carried by the jaws, and means for closing the compression padsupon the patients foot.

2. Orthopedic apparatus comprising a frame, a seat adjustablelongitudinally of the frame, compression jaws adjustable transversely ofthe frame, said jaws being hollow, both jaws having limb receivingdepressions in the top faces there- WALTER D, LANG FORD.

